Discover Chinahttp://discoverchina.info
Join me in experiencing the real ChinaWed, 22 Jul 2015 08:13:23 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5DiscoverChinahttps://feedburner.google.comDragon Boat Festival weekend tourhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/pkcGb6Y2_c8/
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:42:06 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2606On the weekend of the Dragon Boat Festival, 20-22 June, I was invited by Chinese friends to again experience the spectacular scenery around their village in southern Shanxi Province (you can see pictures from my earlier trip here). Dragon Boat races are traditionally a southern China event, but we did see races on a lake in Qin County as part of our travels. Other places we visited weekend included a 1000-year old cliff temple (Gaohuanyundong), Huangya Cave Arsenal (part of the Red Army resistance against the Japanese invasion), and Taiji Grand Canyon including an ancient cliff village.

Dragon Boat races, Qin County

1000-year old cliff temple (Gaohuanyundong)

Walking to Huangya Cave Arsenal

Walking to Huangya Cave Arsenal

Huangya Cave

Taiji Grand Canyon

Ancient cliff village, Taiji Grand Canyon

]]>http://discoverchina.info/dragon-boat-festival-weekend-tour/The Spectacular TaiHang Mountainshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/wRvOXvN_Yf8/
Tue, 19 May 2015 05:47:10 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2582Last weekend, I visited the village of Chinese friends in WuXiang (武乡) County, Shanxi Province, about three hours drive south of provincial capital Taiyuan. It’s an area well away from the international tourist sites and where few other foreigners have been, with many fascinating and very friendly ancient villages. On Saturday we explored a spectacular section of the TaiHang Mountains east of the village. The TaiHang Mountains are a 400 km long range that runs north-south along the eastern boundary of Shanxi Province. As well as stunning natural scenery, a great surprise was to hear Buddhist chanting wafting through the valleys. Rounding a spur, we came across a remote Buddhist temple inside a cave with sacred spring and monks cabins along the cliff line. On Sunday we went to the nearby TaiHang Dragon cave, a local attraction, which was also impressive.

TaiHang Mountains

TaiHang Mountains

Buddhist Cave Temple, TaiHang Mountains

Buddhist Cave Temple and Monk’s Cabins

Interior, Buddhist Cave Temple

Sacred Spring, Buddhist Cave Temple

Sacred Spring, Buddhist Cave Temple

Entrance, TaiHang Dragon Cave

TaiHang Dragon Cave

TaiHang Dragon Cave

]]>http://discoverchina.info/the-spectacular-taihang-mountains/One Day in Shenzhenhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/hNtb7ZzusMk/
Sun, 13 Apr 2014 05:15:10 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2449Like to venture further into Shenzhen’s hidden history, and learn more about this exciting and dynamic city? Pick a day, head across to the One Day in Shenzhen blog, where “Mr. Shenzhen” James Baquet has collected his many fascinating articles exploring a great range of places, and go out and explore!
]]>http://discoverchina.info/one-day-in-shenzhen/Happy Chinese New Year 2014!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/QS0CW5edT0E/
Fri, 31 Jan 2014 15:29:53 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2384Wishing everyone “Gong Xi Fa Cai” – happy Chinese New Year – and the very best for the Year of the Horse. Find out more in the CCTV English Special Feature 2014 Spring Festival.
]]>http://discoverchina.info/happy-chinese-new-year-2014/Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2013!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/jbx5d2f8IYs/
Thu, 19 Sep 2013 05:11:20 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2378Today the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated across China and in many other parts of the world. People are enjoying the traditional mooncakes, and looking forward to this evening’s gala, which this year is being held in Meizhou in Guangdong Province. To find out more visit the CCTV 2013 Mid-Autumn Festival special feature.
]]>http://discoverchina.info/mid-autumn-festival-2013/China celebrates the Lantern Festivalhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/XAWPEIkSaR4/
Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:34:26 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2372On Sunday people across China celebrated the Lantern Festival, the final event of the month-long Spring Festival. Find out about the different Lantern Festival traditions around China in the CCTV English Culture Express news story People celebrate Lantern Festival around China.
]]>http://discoverchina.info/lantern-festival-2013/Happy Chinese New Year!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/uawcO9IN-2E/
Sat, 09 Feb 2013 06:01:28 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2367Today is the eve of the Chinese New Year – wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and the very best for the coming Year of the Snake! Don’t forget to watch the web version of the Chinese New Year gala on the CCTV News website.
]]>http://discoverchina.info/happy-chinese-new-year-2013/Little New Year (Festival of the Kitchen God)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/EbkSUMP1Ess/
Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:00:56 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2361Today the celebrations in the lead-up to Lunar New Year continue with Little New Year (Festival of the Kitchen God).
]]>http://discoverchina.info/little-new-year-2013/Laba Rice Porridge Festival heralds coming Spring Festivalhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/j0KuEYeKQ68/
Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:15:42 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2356Today is the traditional Chinese “Laba Rice Porridge Festival” celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th month in the lunar Chinese calendar, heralding the coming Spring Festival. The tradition has its roots in Buddhist practices, when on this day large Buddhist temples would offer rice porridge to the poor to show their faith to Buddha. find out more in the CNTV story “Laba Rice Porridge Festival” celebrated in China.
]]>http://discoverchina.info/laba-rice-porridge-festival-heralds-coming-spring-festival/Chinese Pilgrimage – a fascinating journeyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DiscoverChina/~3/63t5IQepSs8/
Sun, 06 Jan 2013 11:18:41 +0000http://discoverchina.info/?p=2322In 1983 a list of the “142 key Buddhist Temples in the Han Area of China” was produced, and since 2009 James Baquet has been visiting them during his holidays. His fascinating website Chinese Pilgrimage features images and brief descriptions from his “epic” three-year journey to these sometimes exquisite, always interesting temples.